Awning



May 12, 1931. N. H. NELSON 3 3 AWNING Filed y 3. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 12, 1931. N. H. NELSON 1,805,223

AWNING Filed May 15, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1931. N. H. NELSON 1,805,223

AWNING Filed May 15, 1929 s s1 t 3 Qwuentoz STATES ears r NELS H. NELSON, OF DES MOINES, IOWA AWNING Application filed. May 13,

the i incipal object of this invention is to provide an awning fixture that is capable of holding the flexible awning at various positions in a taut and rigid condition, thereby eliminating noise in and damage to the awning and assembly by winds and storms.

A further object of this invention is to proide awning capable of being secured at arious positions in a taut and rigid condillOll that is completely operated by a single draft chain or the like.

A. still further object of this invention is to provide an awning fixture that is so designed that it will automatically compensate for slight dimensional errors made in installation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an awning that may be variably positioned relative to the opemng 1n the building that it protects, thereby ventilation may be controlled, and shade or storm protection realized.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an awning fixture that will not 5 mar or damage the building to which it is secured by its operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an awning that may be quickly attached to or detached from the binder strip which is designed to be secured to its outer end.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an awning having positive locking elements that are economical in manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance.

, These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My nvention consists in the construction,

49 arrangement and combination of the various 1929. Serial No. 362,731.

ing housing for storing and protecting the awning cloth when not in use.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and shows the manner of detachably securing the awning to the binder strip and also the method of detachably securing the binder strip to the Ushaped bar.

4 is a side view of the complete awning with dotted lines showing the various functioning positions of the same.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of one of the frame tubes at a point where the embracing bracket is engaging it.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side view of one of the hinges and positive locking portions of the awning fixture with dotted lines to illustrate its operation.

Fig. 7 is a front view of one of the hinges and positive locking portions of the awning fixture and shows the means employed for automatically compensating for dimensional errors made when the device is installed.

8 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of one of the hinges and positive locking portions of the awning fixture and more fully illustrates one of the operative positions.

l 9 is an end view of one of the awning housing supporting and end enclosing caps.

10 is a side view of one of the awning housing supporting and end enclosing caps with U-shaped key for retaining the awning housing in the same.

. Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view of the awning housing with rotatably mounted awning roller therein.

Fig. 121's a bottom view of the forked memher for engaging and holding the draft chain at various points in its length.

The chief objection to awnings now on the market is that they cannot, when in operative position, be rigidly and positively held from movement in either direction. This means that they are subject to great wear and noise, and in the case of bad storms they are at the mercy of the wind. I have overcome this serious objection by providing an awning that may be securely locked from move ment in all directions.

In the accompanying drawings, I have used the numeral 10 to designate the wall of a building having a window and a window frame 11 to which th invention is designed to be attached.

The numeral 12 designates the awning' housing; formed from sheet metal or the like and approximately rectangular in cross sectiou. The bottom w ll and front wall formed from the opposite side marginal portions of the sheet and do not quite abut at their edges. but are slightly apart to form a slot or mouth 13 which extends longitudin ally of the housing at the lower forward corner thereof. By bending these edges bacl: upon themselves. a smooth mouth will be obtained, Secured in and near each end of the housing; 12 is partition 14;. pierced near its cen ter and forced inwardly to form a bearing 11 ember 15 as shown in Fig. 2. Rl'itatably mount-ed in these two bearing; members and extend in beyond the same is the awnin roller con prising a wooden core 16 and metal shell 17. A flexible awning member 18 such as a piece of canvas or the like is attached at one end to this roller by taclrs 19. These taclrs. after passing through tl e-metal shell 17, clinch in the wood 16. The flexible awning is designed, to extend through the slot 1.3 at times, and its housing 12 is adapted to be secured to the ton of the win new frmne 11 as shown in Fig. 1. This attaching: of the housing is accomplished by the two awning; housing supporting and end GllClGFflDf" caps 20 of yolre form havim t ir back walls secured to the window frame by screws 21. These caps are of a design to lit snugly the outside of the housing; 12 and engage the housing near its respective ends. As they have no front wall. the awning; housing); may be easily and readily removed. therefrom by moving outwardly from the window frame. To prevent an accidental withorawal of the housing from the caps I have provided eyes 12 on the upper and bottom wall of each of the caps and. extending beyond the hou g} when the same is in the caps 20, and a l 23 formed of a piece of wire or l ht rod havine' its end portions bent at l and adapted to be insert 7 i'lflllt anew; the upper a id lower eyes and extend across to i the housing, as shown in Fig. 1 an These cans 20 also enclose the open of the lions in; 12.

A. binder strip provided for th margin of the awning cloth 18. which s composed of a i U sheet of metal extending the 24 forminga groove. ondownwardly. into which a hoe 9o the marginal edge of the .5

and a rod 26 run longitud .ly th loop after it is in the .e' ooye. diameter of the rod and loop is "ca ,er than the opening of the groove the an fabric will be securely attached to the binder strip. To remove the binder strip from the awning cloth, it is merely necessary to slide the rod 26 longitudinally out of the groove, thereby making; it easy for the replacement of new awning clot-h as well in the installing of the invent-ion.

Designed to be secured by a suitable means to each lower side portion of the frame 11 is an elongated car 27 as shown in Figures 6 and 7. Secured to the upper portion of each of these and extending; inwardly is a horizontal rod 28. Rotatably and slidably mounted at one end to each of these rods 28 is a hollow tube 29. By the tube 29 being slidably mounted as well as rotatably mounted, slight dimensional errors in the installing; of the cars 27 are automatically compensated. for. A cotter key may be used to prevent accidental. removal of the rod 29. The numeral 3O designates my U-shaped bar, circular in cross section and having its two ends slidably mounted in the two hollow tubes 29 respectively. The binder strip is hine'edly and detachably secured to the central portion of the U-shaped bar by a hook or trough portion 31 formed on its outer en d and rear side for receiving the same.

This trouiz'h 31 is preferably rectangular in cross section and possesses enough resiliency to extend around the greater portion of the bar 30 shown in Fig. 3. when the bar 30 is sprung into the same. By bending the free edge of the trough inwardly and back upon itself. a projection will. be formed to more successfully retain the bar 30 in the trough and also the construction of the trough will be strengthened. By the longitudinal bend or angle 32 in the binder strin adjacent to the lower marginal. edge of the awning: c oth. the hooked part 24 of the same will project forwardly of the plane of the body of the cloth, thereby any water which may fell upon and run down the awning will be projected beyond the groove and cloth therein and the same will be waterproof and dirt-proof. Also the trough 31 will be held by the awning cloth at such an angle that the U-shaped bar 30 will be successfully and properly held in the bottom thereof. and not have as much of its weight upon the inner wall of the trough as otherwise would be the case. The numeral 33 desi nates a chain. cable or the like having one end entering the housing; 12 adjacent to the outer face of one of the partitions 14'. and secured by suitable means to the awning; roller as shown. in Fig. This chain may extend through the window frame and have any one of its links capable of entering and engra the forked atch member 34; secured to the inside of the window frame. The numeral 33 designates a disk on the roller to prevent the chain en gaging the cap 20 or slipping off the end of the roller. By this construction, if the chain is not engaging the catch member 34, the weight of the binder strip, tubes 29 and U-bar 30 will unroll the cloth awning from awning roller, out of the slot 13 and to a position in front of the window as shown in the drawings. As the chain is secured to the awning roller, the same will be wound around the roller.

By pulling downwardly on awning roller will be rotated. and the cloth awning rolled upon the roller and the chain unwound from the rol er. During this operation the tubes 29 will be moved to an upward position and the U-shapcd bar 30 slid outwardly from the tubes as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. This telescoping action of the tubes and member 30 permit the ears 2? to be mounted well down on the window frame, thereby the awning cloth will not only cover approximately the entire opening of the window, but its lower portion will be held close to the wall 10, allowing little it any sunshine o rain to enter between the wall 10 and awning cloth. If it is desired that the lower portion of the awning cloth be held. further from the wall 10, a cotter-key may be inserted in any one of the holes 36 in the longitudinal. length or" each of the tubes 29, thereby preventing the bar 30 from telescoping in the tubes beyond a certain point, which is the point where the cotter-keys pierce the tubes.

As before noted, when the draft chain is engaging the catch member 34- further unrolling of the awning cloth is positively prevented. I will now describe how the move ment of the awning cloth is accomplished in the opposite direction. ln each of the ears 27 is an elongated vertical slot 37 extending from a point in the upper portion of the ear to a point near the lower portion of the car, from which it extends downwardly and inwardly as shown in the drawings. Parallel with the downward and inward portion of the slot, forward of the same and extending to a lower point in the car than toe downward and inward portion of the slot is a second slot 38. The numeral 39 designates a passageway in the ear communicating with the upper portion of the slot 38 and the wardly and downwardly extending slot at point above its bottom.

Pivotally secured on the inner side of each ear at a point forward of the uprthe slot 38 is a catch member I lv des nated by the numera 40. The upper tapered portion of each of these catch members is designated by the numera 4-1 and is capable of engaging at its point, the fastening wall. of the ear to which it secured as shown in lii 8. The lower portion 452 of each of these catch members is also capable of 1g the tastening wall of the earto which it i secured, when swung to a position as shown in Fig. 6.

These catch members are trictionally retained in any position they are placed by a the chain the spring washer 42 between them and the ear to which they are secured. These washers also hold the catch members a slight distance from the ears, thereby preventing the stickin g of the catch members to the ears by paint, dirt, or the like.

Secured by bolts or the like on each tube 29 is an embracing bracket e3 as shown i the drawings. Having one end rotatably mounted in one of the hol s in the bracket L3 and its other end slidably mounted in and enone of the slots in the ear adjacent to it, is the U-shaped locking arm 4%, prevented from accidental detachment from the bracket by suitable means. It the chain 33 released from the catch member 3a and allowed to move upwardly, the tubes 29 will rotate downwardly on their axis. This action will cause the locking arms to slide downwardly and eventually engage the extreme bottom of the slots 37, respectively, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6, with the catch member 40 remaining in the position shown therein. If by some accident, any one of the catch members was not exactly in the position shown in Fig. 6, the locking arm 41% would have engaged the incline side of the point ll, and to continue in its movement in the slot 37, would have moved it to the position shown in Fig.

By pulling downwardly on the chain 33, the locking arms 44, will each, by force of gravity, engage the under side of the hook portion of the catch members 40, on each ear, respectively, and will be guided thereby though the passageway 39, into the slots 38 until the locking arms engage the tops of the slots thereby preventing any further downward movement of the chain. It the chain is hooked in the catch member 34, the awning cloth will positively be held against movement in either direction, as the tubes 29 are prevented from swinging upwardly by the locking arms 44 engaging the upper ends of the slots 38, the bar 30 cannot slide out- .wardly and the unwinding of the awning cloth will be prevented by the chain being secured against upward movement. To release the locking arms l iso that the awning cloth may be wound on the awning roller, it is merely necessary to uncatch the chain and allow the tubes 29 to swing to the lowest point shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. This function of the tubes 29 will force the locking rods to slide downwardly in the slots 38 and in so doing will engage the lower portions 42 of the catch members l0 and move these members to a position shown in Fig. 8, thereby closing the upper portion of the slots 38. It, for any reason, either or both of the catch members 44 are hard to move, by further elevating the chain, the bar 30 will be allowed to slide outwardly, thereby causing more weight and energy to be exerted upon them and causing them to move to the desired position. By pulling downwardly 0n the chain, the locking arms will engage the upper side of the catch member, thereby the arms will be guided into the slots 37 and the flere ible awning may be rolled on the roller in its housing.

The sliding of the arms upwardly in the slots 3? will en age the upper portion of the catch members 4:0 and return them to a normal position shown in Fig. 6. In other words, to oaerate my awning, the chain is allowed to move upwardly as far as it w'll go, then pulled downwardly as far as it wi l. go and locked. To return the flexible awnii to its housing, release the chain and allow it to move upwardly as far as it will go, then pull downwardly until all the awning cloth is in the housing and lock the chain against upward movement. lVhen all of the awn a cloth is in the housing, the trough portion 31 of the binder strip will wedge into the slot 13 of the housing, thereby enclosing the housing. By sliding and securing the brackets 43 at various positions on the tubes and the placement of the locking arms in various holes in the brackets, various elevations and positions of the awning cloth is realized, then the same is in a locked condi tion. If desired, the awning cloth may be allowed to move only part way down over the window and held in that position by locking the chain against further upward movement, but of course, the positive locking elements will not be functioning at that posi tion.

By placing the locking arms 41d so that they will engage the top of the slots 37 before the tubes 29 are in a v irtical plane, the tubes .29 will be prevented from swinging to a position where they will engage and mar the window frame, 11.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved awning, without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, an awning frame hingedly secured to a supporting surface, an elongated car designed to be secured to said supportin surface, a slot in said ear extending parallel with said supporting surface and then inwardly toward said supporting surface at an angle thereto, a second slot in said ear member parallel to the lower portion of said first mentioned slot and extending lower than the first mentioned slot, a passageway extending between said two slots at a point above the bottom of said first mentioned slot, a catch member rotatably secured to said ear member at a point adjacent to the top of said second slot and forward of the same; said catch member comprising a lower portion capable of being swung to a point where it engages the securing wall of said ear and enclosing the lower portion of said second mentioned slot, an upper portion capable of engaging the securing wall of said ear; cutting the path of the first mentioned slot at a point above the top of said second mentioned slot and a hook portion capable of enclosing the upper portion of said second mentioned slot when its upper portion is engaging the securing wall of said car, an arm having one end pivotally secured to said frame and its other end capable of movement in said slots and passageway at times, and a draft clement operatively secured to said frame for elevating the same.

2. In a device of the class described, an awning frame hingedly secured to a supporting surface, an elongated car designed to be secured to said supporting surface, a slot in said ear extending parallel with said supporting surface and then inwardly toward said supporting surface at an angle thereto, second slot in said ear member parallel to the lower portion of said first mentioned slot and extending lower than the first mentioned slot, a passageway extending between said two slots at a point above the bottom of said first mentioned slot, a catch member rotatably secured to said ear member at a point adjacent to the top of said second slot and forward of the same; said catch member comprising a lower portion capable of being swung to a point where it engages the securing wall of said our and enclosing the lower portion of said second mentioned slot, an upper portion capable of engaging the securing wall of said ear; cutting the path of the first mentioned slot at a point above the top of said second mentioned slot and a hook portion capable of enclosing the upper portion of said second mentioned slot when its upper portion is engaging the securing wall of said car; a means for yieldingly holding said catch member in any position it is placed, an d an arm having one end pivotally securedto said frame and its other end capable of movement in said slots and passageway at times, and a draft element operatively secured to said frame for elevating the same.

3. In a device of the class described, an awning frame hingedly secured to a sup porting surface, an elongated car designed to be secured to said supporting surface, a slot in said ear extending parallel with said supporting surface and then inwardly toward said supporting surface at an angle thereto, a second slot in said ear member parallel to the lower portion of said first mentioned slot and extending lower than the first mentioned slot, a passageway extending between said two slots at a point above the bottom of said first mentioned slot, a catch member rotatably scoured to said ear member at a point adjacent to the top of said second slot and forward of the same; said catch member comprising a lower portion capable of being swung to a point where it engages the securing wall of said ear and enclosing the lower portion of said second mentioned slot, an upper portion capable of engaging the securing wall of said ear, cutting the path of the first mentioned slot at a point above the top of said second mentioned slot and a hook portion capable of enclosing the upper portion of said second mentioned slot when its upper portion is engaging the securing wall of said ear, a means for holding said catch member a slight distance from said ear, an arm having one end pivotally secured to said frame and its other end capable of movement in said slots and passageway at times, and a draft element operatively secured to said frame for elevating the same, and a means for limiting the move ment of said draft element at times.

4. In a device of the class described, a flexible element, a swinging frame, a binder strip secured to said flexible element, a hook portion formed on said binder strip for detachably engaging the outer end of said frame; said hook portion having its free end bent inwardly beyond said frame when said frame is in the same for yieldingly retaining said frame in said hook portion.

5. In a device of the class described, an awning frame-hingedly secured to a supporting surface, an elongated ear designed to be secured to said supporting surface, a slot in said ear extending parallel with said supporting surface and then inwardly toward said supporting surface at an angle thereto, a second slot in said ear member parallel to the lower portion of said first mentioned slot and extending lower than the first mentioned slot, a passageway extending between said two slots at a point above the bottom of said first mentioned slot, a catch member rotatably secured to said ear member at a point adjacent to the top of said second slot and forward of the same; said catch member comprising a lower portion capable of being swung to a point where it engages the securing wall of said ear and enclosing the lower portion of said second mentioned slot, an upper portion capable of engaging the securing wall of said ear; cutting-the path of the first mentioned slot at a point above the top of said second mentioned slot and a hook portion capable of enclosing the upper portion of said second mentioned slot when its upper portion is engaging the securing Wall of said ear, and a member operatively connected to said frame capable of movement in said slots and passageways at times.

6. In a device of the class described, a r0- tatably mounted roller, a flexible awning capable of being rolled on said roller, two spaced apart pipe members designed to be pivoted at one of their ends to a supporting surface, a U-shaped member having its two ends freely telescoping inside said two pipes, respectively, a means for adjustably limiting the sliding movement of said U- shaped member in said pipes, a means for securing said awning to said U-shaped member, and a draft element having one end secured to said roller.

7. In a device of the class described, two bracket members designed to be spaced apart and secured to a supporting surface, a horizontal elongated shaft on each of said bracket members and an awning frame rotatably and slidably mounted on said shafts, respectively for hingedl securing the same to said bracket members; said elongated shafts and frame being so positioned one to the other to permit horizontal sliding movement for automatically compensating for errors in installing the said bracket members the correct distance apart.

8. In a device of the class described, a rotatably mounted roller, a flexible awning capable of being rolled on said roller, two spaced apart pipe members designed to be pivoted at one of their ends to a supporting surface each having a plurality of holes in their longitudinal lengths, a U-shaped member having its two ends freely telescoping inside said two pipes, respectively, pins capable of extending into said holes in said pipe members for adjustably limiting the sliding movement of said U-shaped member in said pipes, a means for securing said awning to said U-shaped member, and a draft element having one end secured to said roller.

9. In a device of the class described, a fienible element, a frame, a binder strip detachably secured to said flexible element, a hook portion formed on said binder strip for detachably engaging the outer end of said frame having its free end bent inwardly beyond said frame when said frame is in the same for yieldingly retaining said frame in said hook portion, and an inwardly longitudinal bent portion in said binder strip between said hook portion and the line where said binder strip is secured to said flexible element.

NELS H. NELSGN. 

